Pile-cutting mechanism.



A. F. IVICCOLLUM.

PILE CUTTING MECHANISM.

.APPucATloIN man 11111115.1914.

Patented Nov. 23, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l.

IMM @afi/@wam A. F. MCCOLLUM. PILE cums MECHANISM.

APPUCATION FILED )ULY l5. 1914.'

Patene Nov 23, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A. F. MCCULLUM. PILE cumNc MecHANlsM. APPLICATION FILED IULY l5. 1914.

Patented Nov. 23, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

yfedjcm 4. Z .Za-6 'Zarnegw/ gw v A. F. McCOLLUM.

PILE CUTTING MECHANUSM. 'l APPLlcAnoN FILED 1uLY|5.1914.

71,161,710. Patented Nov. 23, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

A. F. McCOLLUM.

PILE CUTTING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED IULY I5. |914.

Patented Nov. 23, 19I5.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE ALFRED F. MGCOLLUM, 0F BLOOMSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIG-NOR OF THREE- FIFTHS T0 JAMES'MAGEE, 2D, 0F BLOQMSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

PILE-CUTTING MECHANISM.

Specioation of Letters Patent.

Patented NOV. 23, 1915.

. Application led July 15, 1914. Serial No. 851,210.

To all 'whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALFRED F. MCCOLLUM, a citizen of the United States, residing in Bloomsburg, Columbia county, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Pile-Cutting Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists primarily of an improved form of pile cutting apparatus designed to so cut the pile of wide fabrics that the tufts will be even throughout the entire width, the invention also including means for periodically guiding the cutting element into engagement with a sharpening device whereby it is automatically sharpened.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for preventing the pile wires from being accidentally thrown beyond their predetermined positions during their insertion and withdrawal, it being further desired to provide means for easily and quickly throwing the pile cutting mechanism out of operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a loom with an adjustable device for deectin-g the pile wires over the warp sheds when it is desired to change the weave from a pile to a non-pile fabric.

These objects, and other advantageous ends I secure las hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of suflicient of a loom to illustrate myinvention; Fig. 2 is a plan of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan of a portion of my invention on an enlarged scale; Figs. 4 Aand 5 are sectional elevations taken on the lines a-a and b-?J, Fig. 3 respectively; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan on an enlarged scale, showing certain of the elements of my invention in positions different from those which they are shown as having in'Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation taken on the line c-c, Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of an improved form of switch tongue which forms a part of my invention; Figs. 9 and 10 are sections taken respectively on the lines rl-d, Fig. 8, and ee Fig. 6; Figs. 11 and 12- are respectively a front elevation and an inverted plan of the cutting mechanism shown in Fig. 10; Fig. 13 is a detached perspective view showing the detail construction of the cutting element; Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic plan illustrating certain features of the invention; Figs. 15, 16 and 17 are diagrammatic plans showing the pile cutting knife and the sharpening mechanism 1n different operative positions; Fig. 18 is an inverted plan of the sharpening mechanism and certain associated parts; Fig. 19 is a section on the line f-f Fig. 6 showing the wire deflecting device in its inoperative position; Figs. 20 and 21 are elevations taken respectively on the lines g-g and j-j, Fig. 2; and Figs. 22 to 26 inclusive are perspective views of certain of the elements of my invention. l

In the above drawings, 1 is the main frame of a loom having secured thereto an `auxiliary frame 2 forming the support for a pile wire switch 3-which includes a switch tongue 4 pivoted at 5. A bracket 6 is secured to the side of the loom opposite that having vsaid switch and carries a grooved pulley wheel 7, while a second and similar pulley 8 is mounted on a bracket 6% projecting from the switch supporting structure. A wire carriage 9, in the presentl instance made up of two plates 10 and 11 secured together by bolts 12, is designed to slide on the switch bed 13 as shown in Fig. 5 being prevented from lateral or vertical movement by having a dependent rib 14 extendinginto a groove 15 in said bed 13 and an undercut shoulder 16 engaging the inner beveled face 17 of a projecting edge of the bed 13. The switch tongue 4 is free to slide between the plate 11 and the bed 13.

A rope belt 20 passes around the pulleys 7 and 8 and has its ends provided with tension springs 21 and 22, each having ahooked end designed to enter a hole in a link 23. This latter as shown in Fig. 25 has a central elongated hole 232L shaped to admit the elongated head 19 of a bolt 1 8 adjustably mounted on the bottom of the carriage; the head being elongated in a line parallel to the long aXis of said link while the hole 23a by any suitable means such as' a-- sol secting grooves 27 forming a continuous zig zag passage or guideway around said bar.

- plate 29. This carriage 28 has two laterally extending tubes 30 and 31 provided with spring latches 32 at their outer ends, and serving as supports for a secondary knife carriage 33 which has holes 34 and 35 for their reception. The secondary' knife carriage 33 is free to slide longitudinally on the said tubes and is held away from the primary carriage 28 by compression springs 36. In order to normally keep the secondary carriage in a balanced position as shown in Fig. 10 I employ a tension spring 37 having one end connected to said carriage and its other end attached to the carriage 28.

'lhe secondary knife carriage has a vertical groove 38 forming a slideway for a knife holder 39 which at its upper end has a hook 40 and at its lower end is formed with a recess 41 for holding the shank 42 of a pilecutting knife 43. This knife consists of a plate having a notch or recess extending into one of its side edges and having that portion of said edge between its bottom and said notch sharpened to :form a cutting edge, the latter being inclined inwardly or backwardly from its bottom toward the notch thereby giving the knife the form of a hook whose advancing edge is sharpened. Said knife is secured to the holder by a screw 44 passing through a hole in its shank and formed to enter a tapped hole 45.

A shogging plate 46 is slidably mounted on the secondary carriage 33 and has a lip 49, which, when moved in one direction relative to the secondary carriage, engages an inclined surface 50 of the knife holder 39 and moves the latter downwardly until the knife assumes the position shown in broken lines Fig. l1. A continuation of said motion will bring the lip 49 into the recess of the hook 40 thereby locking the knife in its lowered position. In order that the knife 43 shall ltend to move to and be normally retained in its raised position, I provide a spring 51 secured to the secondary knife carriage 33 and having one end in engagement with the lower portion of a headed projection 52 on the knife holder. The upper face of the shogging plate 46 is grooved at 53 and a strap spring 54 is mounted to enter said groove in order to lock the shogging plate in its shogged position.

The bar 24 extends directly above the' warp and fabric space of the loom being in the present instance, held stationary during the operation and forming a rail or slideway for the primary knife carriage 28. The wire slide or carriage 9 imparts a reciprocating movement to the rope belt^20 and since the lower run of this latter is secured to said carriage and its upper run is attached to the primary knife carriage 28, the latter also receives a reciprocating movement which however is opposite in direction tovthat of the wire carriage.

A plate 55 forming a hammer, is secured to the plate 10 by screws 56 which pass through slots 57 therein so that under certain conditions said hammer is free to slide longitudinally. For moving the hammer I provide a member 58 pivotally mounted on a pin 59 which projects upwardly from the plate l1 and through a hole 60 in the plate 10. The upper portion of this bolt has two arms 6l. and 62 which, in the present instance extend substantially at right angles to each other, and it is so positioned relatively to the hammer 55 that either of the arms 61 or 62 may extend within a recess 63 thereof. The ends of this recess are inclined at 64 and 65 so that when the bolt 58 is turned sufiiciently on its pivot pin, either the arm 61 will engage the incline 64 and move the hammer in one direction or the arm 62 will engage the incline 65 and move it in the opposite direction. -As shown in Fig. 3 the arm 61 is within the recess 63 with its end abutting a shoulder 66 on the hammer so that the latter is locked to the wire carriage 9.

As shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5, the lower plate 11 of the wire carriage 9 forms a support for a wire withdrawing hook 67 which is pivoted thereto by a bolt 68 and is normally held in contact with a fiat face 69 of a cam 69n on a depending sleeve portion 70 of the member'58 by means of a spring 67a. If the member 58 is turned as above described, the hook 67 will be moved by the cam 69 against the action of the spring 67 into such a position that it will not act to withdraw the wires.

A safety latch 71 is mounted in a slot 72 of the plate 10 so as to be free to slide vertically and has ears 73 extending from the ends of its body portion to limit the downward movement of the latter. This latch is so positioned relatively to the wire withdrawing hook 67 that after the latter has entered the eye 74 in the wire jack 75 the lower portion of said latch will extend into a notch 76 in the upper portion of the wire jack (Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 23) so as to lock the latter in the wire carriage.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 6. a frame 7 7 for holding the jacks 75 of the pile wire 78, has two extensions 79 and 80 whose upper Surfaces are beveled to form lifting canls for the safety latch 71, and when it is raised by said cams it will be moved out of the notches proper alinement by a plate spring 81 which bears against the last wire inserted.

The switch tongue 4 is grooved at 82 in the customary manner for the reception of a Y wire and has a guard linger 83 pivotally secured thereto with -its pointed inner end extending over said groove (see Fig. 2). Tension springs 84 and 85 have their ends attached respectively'to the tongue 4 and to this guard finger in such manner as to normally keep the latter in position over the groove while allowing it to be swung in either direction by the jack of a pile wire when this is being inserted or withdrawn.

A cover vplate 86 is pivoted to the tongue 4 at 87 and is normally held over the groove 82 by a compression spring 88 which engages a flange 89 thereon. The .end 90 of the plate 86 is rounded so that when the wire is being withdrawn the jack will engage this end and push said plate awayV from the groove 82, though as soon as the wire jack has passed the cover plate, the spring 86 will serve to move it over the groove 82 again. The edge 91 of the plate extends diagonally across the groove in p0- sition to be engaged by the wire jack durfY ing its insertion, where it will slide said plate away from the groove 82;.the function of the guard finger 83 and ofthe cover plate 86 being to keep the wire proper within the grooveduring its insertion and withdrawal. y

Under operating1 conditions, the pile wires are inserted andwithdrawn in the usual manner z-that it to say, a wire is withdrawn from a woven portion of the fabric during the outwardmovement .of the wire carriage 9 and re-inserted between the sheds of the warp during the inward movement of said carriage.

While in the drawings I have illustrated my invention as employed in connection with the grooved pile wires described and claimed in my co-pending application for patent, Serial No. 821,690, filed February 28, 1914, it is to be understood that it may be advantageously employed with pile wires of other constructions.

Mounted on an extension 93 of the bracket 6 is a spring pressed bumper 92 consisting of a plunger 94 slidable within a casing 95 (Figs. 2 and 20). A compression spring 96 within said casing tends to normally force the plunger 94 out of the casing and forms a cushion when it is forced inwardly. Said plunger 94 and the hammer 55 are in such positions that when the knife carriage is/reciprocated across the loom, the ends of the shogging plate will respectively strike' them and thus produce an alternate upward and downward motion of the pile cuttin knife 42. The movement of the wire an knife carriages is such that one end of the fshogging plate will be engaged by the haml'mer 55 slightly before said carriages havey completed their movement toward each other while the other end of said plate will similarly engage the plunger 9 4 shortly before the carriages have completed their movement apart. However, in order to pre,

vent injury to any of the parts which en-y gage each other before the knife carriage has completed its movement, the springs 21 and 22 will expand or contract and thereby allow for differences in the extent of the movement.

For the purpose of successively alining the pile-cutting knife with the grooves of the wires a finger 97 having a pointed end 98, is secured to a slidable plate 99 mounted on the upper surface of one side 0f the frame 1 (Fig. 6), and said plate is held in position by screws 100 which extend downwardly through slots in said frame. Attached to the plate 99 by one of the screws 100 is a crd or belt 101 which passes over a pulley 102 projecting downwardly from the frame 1 and has its second end secured to a tension spring 103, whose opposite end is connected byV means of a cord 104, to the lay or other movable part of the loom (not shown) 'timed with the wire inserting and withdrawing mechanism (see Fig. 7

For sharpening the pile cutting knives I provide a device including two plates 105 and 106 mounted on the extension 93 of the bracket 6 and respectively constituting supports for two arms 107 and 108 which are pivoted at 109 and 110. The arm 107 carries a knifesharpening stone 111 and is normally kept in the position shown in Figs. 15 and 16 by means ofa spring 112, mounted `on a rod 113 thereon and pressing against an extension 114 on the plate 105. Said arm is slotted at 115 for the reception of a pin 116 for limiting its movement in one direction while allowing it to swing in the opposite direction against the action of the spring 112 through a distance equal to the length of said slot.

The arm 108 moves in a plane parallel with that of the arm 107 and carries a knife sharpening stone 117, being normally held in the position shown in Fig. 15 by a spring 118 mounted on a bar 1191/l and acting between saidarm and an extension 120 on the plate 106. Both arms 107 and 108 are so mounted that a portion of each of their sharpening stones 111 and 117 is normally below the opening or passage 121 formed between the plates 105 and 1,06 (Fig. 15), and the mounting of these arms is such that they swing in opposite directions. Said sharpening stones are respectively held to their arms by screw clamps 12,2 and 123 so that they may be easily removed and replaced. The plate 105 has fiXed to it a brush 124 whose bristles extend directly in front of the opening 121 between the plate 105 and 106. Also mounted on the plate 105 is a wire guard consisting of a bar 126, (Fig. 18) having pivoted to it a guard plate 127 which projects substantially at right angles to said bar and has its outer` end tapered. Coil springs 129, each having one end secured to the guard plate 127 and its opposite end secured to the bar 126, serve to retain said plate in and return it to the normal position shown. The lower face of the guard plate has secured to it a longitudinally extending depressor 130 whose under edge is beveled as indicated at 131 in Fig. 21.

In order to prevent the wires from moving out of their proper positions during the weaving of a heading or other change from a pile fabric to a non-pile fabric, I provide 'a wire-limiting finger 132 consisting of a spring wire having a coiled portion attached to the end`ofthe bar 126 by a screw 128 and projecting vertically downward from said coil to a point immediately adjacent the wires.

A knife-gage or guiding bar 133 is mounted on the upper face of the plate 106 (Fig. 2) in line with the spring-pressed bumper 92, and there is a second knife-gage bar in the form of a rib 134 forming part of the finger 97 and having one extremity beveled or tapered to correspond with the pointed portion 98 of said finger.

The wire deflector 135 inthe present instance consists of a body of sheet metal having a turned-under edge 136 serving as a spring clip to bind it to the upper plate 137 of the main frame 1 with apressure SufB-s ciently great to hold it in place while allowing it to be manually positioned thereon. The free end 138 of the defiector is bent upwardly as shown in Figs. 6 and 19 and serves to guide the wires out of the warp shed when in a position in line with the groove 82 of the switch tongue 4, it being obvious Vthat as shown in Fig. 6 the wire deflector will not affect the insertion of the wires into their proper positions within the shed of the loom during weaving of a pile fabric.

Under conditions of operation a reciprocating motion is imparted to the wire carriage 9 through the medium of the rope 23'r1 and usual mechanism (not shown), while the knife carriages 28 and 33 are thus given a corresponding reciprocating movement in an opposite direction. During the weaving of a pile fabric, when the knife carriages are moving in the direction of the arrow a: and the wire carriage 9 is moving in the direction of the arrow y, the pile cutting knife 42 is raised out of contact with the pile wires and fabric, and the end 47 of the shogging plate 46 is projected beyond the secondary carriage as shown in Figs. 2 and 11. When the hammer 55 and said plate come into engagement the continued movement of said knife and wire carriages will effect a relative movement between the shogging plate and the secondary knife carriage which will cause the lip 49 of the former to engage the inclined surface 50 of the knife holder. As a result the' knife 42 is lowered until its cutting portion enters the groove of a wire over which the looped warp threads have been formed.

The movement of the Wire and knife carriages is so regulated that just after the knife has entered the groove of a wire as just described, their movement will cease after which they will begin to move in opposite directions. Prior to this action the wire withdrawing hook 67 will engage the eye 74 of the jack 7 5 whose wire has previously had its loops cut and during the separating movement of the carriages will withdraw the wire from the fabric into the groove 82 in the switch tongue 4 which has been moved into the position shown in broken lines Fig. l2, by mechanism not shown. The pile cutting knife in' moving in the direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow Fig. 1, will cut-the pile loops which are formed over the wire in whose groove it is traveling and will then engage and be cleared of any adhering fibers by means of the brush 124. The continued movement of the knife in the direction indicated will first cause it to contact with the sharpening stone 117 and as it passes the same, will result in a sharpening of one of its sides, while said stone and arm 108 are gradually moved from the position shown in Fig. 15 to that shown in Fig. 16. In passin out of engagement with this stone the Iiody portion of the knife blade is engaged by the arm. 108 and said blade is-thereby held from moving lrelatively to the knife carriage until its opposite side contacts with and in passing, is sharpened by the stone 111; the spring 112 serving to keep said stone in proper engagement with the knife edge and opposing movement of the arm 107 during the passage of said knifeinto the position shown in Fig. 17. To insurethe sharpening of the knife edge at the desired bevel, a groove 33a in the secondary carriage 33 receives' the knife gage bar 133 so that the latter holds and guides the knife 38 in the proper relation to the sharpening stones.

While the knife is being sharpened the end 48 of the shogging plate 46 engages the sprin -pressed bumper 94 so that the continue movement of the knife carriages causes a relative movement between the primary carriage and said plate which results in the lip 49 moving away from the knife holder and allowin the spring 51 to move the latter with the Enife upwardly after the the arrow ya.

knife carriages have started in an opposite direction and the knife has been moved out ter from raising in its carriage while passing from the stone 111 to the stone 117. Hence the knife moves into and out ofengagement with the sharpening stones without changing its relative position thereto, which insures that both sides of the cutting edge are uniformly ground. After the pile wire has been withdrawn as previously stated, the switch tongue 4 is moved on its pivot in the direction of the arrow y', from the position shown in broken lines.Fig. 2, into the position shown in full lines Figs. 2 and 3. Then as the wire carriage moves forward again in the direction of the arrow y, Fig. 1, the wire which has just been withdrawn will be re-inserted within the warp shed of the unwoven warp threads and will be beat up by the lay when the latter moves forwardly. While the wire is being inserted as just described the switch tongue 4 is being gradually moved toward the position shown in broken lines, Fig. 2, and the timing is such that `,ust prior to the time when the entire length of the wire has been inserted in the warp shed, the position of the switch tongue 4 is such that the edge of the wire jack will engage the curved edge of the cam 80. By the continued forward movement of the wire this jack is squeezed between the spring 81 and the jack of the previously inserted wire so that all the wires are caused to lie evenly and it snugly while the jacks are kept in proper alinement between said spring and a portion of the main frame 1. This movement lof the knife carriages' and wire carriage is continued during the weaving and cutting of the fabric.

rIfhe Wire alining finger 97 normally'v rests'I -pile warps, the member 58 is turned in the direction of the arrow y2, Figs. 2, 3 and 6, thus causing the arm 62 to engage the beveled portion 65 of thehammer 55 which is therefore free to slide inl the. direction of As a consequence thehammer does not move the endy 47 of the shogging plate 46 and therefore allows the pile knife 42 to remain in its upper inoperative position. By turning the member 58 as just described the wire withdrawing hook 67 will be moved by the face 69 of the sleeve 70 against the action of the spring 67 into such a .position that it will not engage and withdraw the wires. This adjustment is particularly valuable in case of mispicks or `otherforlns of misweaves Where it is necessary for theweaver to reinsert wires and since when the member -is turned so as not to withdraw the wires, the hammer is also moved out of operative position, the knife ment with the wires and fabric, without possibility of injuring the same.

If desired, the link 23 may be detached fromV the bolt 18 so as to allow the knife carriage to remain idle while the wire carriage moves to withdraw the wires as for example in weaving in a heading or at any other time vwhen it is advisable to stop the knife carriage, and it is therefore possible with the present invention, to cause the machine to produce a cut pile fabric, an uncut pile fabric or a non-pile fabric. As previously stated, when it is desired to weave a non-pile fabric, the wire deflcctor 135 is slid along the portion 137 of the main frame 1 so .that its bent end 138 is in thepath of the wire which is being inserted, thus causing said wire to be deflected upwardly as shown in brokenlinesin Fig. 19. Said wire therefore, instead of` being inserted between the warp shed, will ride over the same, and as the lay beats up, will be slid over the top of the woven fabric.

In pile wire looms and especially in those of relatively great width, the pile wires as- 'sume a bowed form and do not lay straight Thi-sis due to the formation in the fabric. and 'reed of the lay, since the latter isl necessarily more pliable near its central portion than adjacent the ends where it has .the support of the end castings of the lay arms. Such curvature is noticeable to the eye and has been one of the greatest draw Ibacks in the weaving of cut pile fabrics where the knife cuts the loops of the pile forward over the wires. y'One of the mportant features of my invention therefore resides in the mechanism which I employ for causing the knife to accurately follow the groove in a wire irrespective of the curvature thereof.l

In Fig. 14 I have shown a pile wire 78 which is groovedl throughout its length and have shown the pile cutting knife 42 directly over the groove. By havingthe secondarycarriage slidably mounted on the tubes 30 and 3l and balanced by the springs 36 and 37, it is free to move in a direction at right angles to the line of movement of the primary carriage along the rigidly mounted bar 24, so that the knife is permitted to follow the groove of the wireand with the construction shown, Will not tend to bind against the sides of the wire, because of this free mounting of said primary carriage. For example, in Fig. 14 the pile cutting -being allowed to remain up out of engageknife 42 is shown within the groove of the wire at the point of its greatest curvature, and obviously the movement of the primary knife carriage 28 will cause the secondary knife carriage 33 to be moved toward it, since the knife 42 will follow the curvature of the groove. This feature has made it possible to cut an Aeven pile on extremely wide looms Where heretofore it has been impossible.

During the withdrawal of-the wires, after the jacks 75 have swung the plate 86 on its pivot and entered the groove 82 of the switch tongue 4, the spring 88, will act to again move the plate over the said groove and will retain the body portion ofthe wire within the same regardless of any tendency it may have to spring out. Moreover, the guard linger 83 will be swung, bythe jack from over the top of the groove 82, but as soon as the jack has passed thereby, said finger, under the action of the springs 84 and 85, will again be moved over said groove and likewise assist in retaining the body portion of the wire within the same. f

When the wire carriage is moved over the extensions or cams 79 and 80 these serve to lift the safety latch 71 out of and above the notches 76 of all the wire jacks which are grouped therebetween. However, as soon as the wire carriage is moved away from these cams 79 and 80 and the wire withdrawing hook 67 has started to withdraw a wire, said safety latch will fall into the notch 76 of the wire which is being withdrawn. Thereafter when the wire carriage moves forwardly, which it does at great speed, said safety catch serves as a lock to prevent the inertia of the wire from carrying it beyond its proper position when the wire carriage has reached its extreme forward position, thus preventing said wire from flying out of the loom or becoming entangled with the warp and causing damage thereto.

In weaving a heading or other non-pile portion which might be desired in a pile fabric, when the wires are withdrawn from the body of the fabric and rest on the top thereof, it has heretofore been found difficult to keep them in regular order, since their ends were free to move and often became entangled. The wire limiting linger 132 however extends downwardly from the bar 126 and its lower end extends close to the top of the fabric, so that any wires which are moved on top of the fabric will press against the end portion of said finger and be kept in regular order as shown in broken lines, Fig. 2l. As this finger is made of flexible wire it will yield slightly and prevent the undue friction which might otherwise occur between the wires.

The guard plate 127 extends over the entire body of pile wires and is swung on its pivot when the body portion of the pile cutting knife engages and passes it and its depressor 130 tendswto keep said wires from springing upwardly after the pile loops have been cut therefrom; at the same time the beveled face 131 of this depressor tends to depress any pile wires which are moved over the top of the fabric and together with the limiting finger 132, tends to keep them in order.

The diagonal grooves 27 in the bar 24 tend to k'eep the bar clean, since they collect the dirt and especially the lint and fibers deposited on said bar and gathered by the primary carriage 28 as it passes thereover. From time to time this material may be removed from the grooves and this feature has been found advantageous under operating conditions, since there is no such collection of dirt on the bar as would interfere with the free movement of the knife carriage thereon.

By having the rope 104 moved by the main shaft or other movable part which is timed with the wire inserting mechanism, the alining finger 97 is held tightly against the interwoven wire while another is being inserted, by reason of the tension on said rope. On the other hand, during the withdrawal of each wire the linger presses lightly against it because the pull of the rope 104 is relaxed. By reason of the flexible connection between the alining finger and the rope 104 provided by the spring 103 said finger is free to move slightly if the nature of the weave requires it.

By slidably mounting the secondary carriage on the tubes 30'and 31 and providing the spring 37 to hold it in place against the action of the springs 36, said carriage is free to move without bending and the pile cutting knife can adjust itself relatively to the grooves of the wires. It may also be noted that the knife carriage may be easily and quickly removed by depressing the spring latches 32 after the outer end of the spring 37 has been detached.

I claim 1. The combination in pile cutting mechanism of a rigidly mounted rail; a knife supported by said rail; and means for moving the knife longitudinally of the rail, said knife during its longitudinal movement being freely reciprocable transversely of said rail and parallel with the plane of the 2. The combination in mechanism for cutting rows of pile loops, of a rail; a primary carriage movable longitudinally of the rail; a secondary carriage freely reciprocable in the direction of the width of said rows of pile loops; and a pile-cutting knife on said secondary carriage.

3. The combination in mechanism for cut- 'of said rows; a secondary carriage freely f slidable on said primary carriage in the direction of the width of said rows; and a pile cutting knife on said secondary carriage.

4. The combination in pile cutting mechanism of a rail; a primary carriage slidable on said rail and including projecting supporting means; a secondary carriage slidable on said supporting means transversely of said rail and parallel with the plane of the pile; and a pile cutting knife on said secondary carriage. i

5. The combination in mechanism for cutting rows of pile of a rail; a primary cai'- riage movable on. said rail longitudinally of said rows; a secondary carriage freely slidable on said primary carriage in the direction of the width of said rows; a pile cutting knife on said secondary carriage; and means for moving the knife into and out of contact with said pile. Y

6. The combination in pile cutting mechanism of a supporting structure; a primary knife carriage having projections and guided on said structure; a secondary knife carriage slidably mounted on said projections; a knife on said secondary carriage; and means for detachably holding said secondary carriage on said projections.

7 The combination in pile cutting mechanism of a supporting structure; a primary carriage; means for moving the latter along the supporting structure; a secondary carriage movable on said primary carriage in opposite directions from a normal position; means for automatically returning,the secondary carriage to its normal'position; and a knife on said secondary carriage.

8. The combination in pile cutting mechanism of a rail; a primary carriage slidably mounted thereon and having projections; a secondary knife carriage slidable on said projections; and latches on the projections for holding said secondary carriage thereon.

9. The combination in mechanism for cutting row of pile loops of a primary carriage;

a secondary carriage thereon; a knife on said secondary carriage; means for moving the primary carriage longitudinally of said rows of loops; and gage means for moving the secondary carriage in the direction of the width of said rows of loops to position the knife relatively thereto.

10. The combination of mechanism for cutting rows of pile loops of a primary carn riage; a secondary carriage thereon; a pile cutting knife on said secondary carriage; means for moving the primary carriage longitudinally of said rows of loops; and a knife gage placed to move said secondary carriage and thereby position -the knife directly over the rows of loops.

11. The combination in mechanism for cutting rows of pile loops of a knife-car- Y riage having a groove; a pile cutting knife on said carriage; means for moving the carriage in the direction of the lengths of said rows of loops; and a knife age'formed to enter the groove of the knife carriage to move the knife into alinement with the rows of loops.

12. The combination in a loom for weaving pile fabrics of pile wire; a rigidly mounted rail; a primary knife carriage movable on said rail; a secondary carriage movable on the primary carriage transversely of said wire and parallel with the plane of the pile; a pile cutting knife on said secondary carriage; and means for moving said knife into and out of its cutting position relatively to the pile on said wires.

13. The combination in a loom for weaving pile fabrics of pile wire; a rigidly mounted rail; a primary knife carriage movably mounted on said rail; a secondary knife carriage movably mounted on said primary carriage; a pile cutting knife on said secondary carriage; and means for engaging the secondary carriage to aline the knife over successive wires.

14. The combination in a loom of pile wire; means for beating up the pile wire; a rail; a primary carriage movable on said rail; a secondarycarriage on said primary carriage; a pile cutting knife on said secondary carriage for engagement withthe pile on the wire, said secondary carriage being freely movable on said primary carriage in the direction of the width of the wire to compensate for the curve of said wl es due to the beat up of the fabric. f 5,. The combination'l in a loom of pile wire; means for inserting and withdrawing said wire; pile cutting means; andmeans for moving the wire inserting and withdrawing means, and the pile cutting means in opposite directions.'

16. rlhe combination in a loom for weaving pile fabrics 'of pile wires; means for successively inserting and withdrawing the wires; pile cutting means movable into and out of cutting position; and means for moving the pile cutting mechanism and the wire i riage; pile cutting means; with a belt connecting the pile cutting means to the Wire carriage. ,7.

19. The combination in a loom for Weaving pile fabrics of pile Wire; a Wire carriage; pile cutting means; With a belt con- `means and another run connected to said Wire carriage.

21. The combination in a loom for Weaving pile fabrics of pile Wire; a Wire carriage; pile cutting means; and a belt having opposite runs detachably connected to the pile cutting means and to the Wire carriage.

22. The combination in mechanism for cutting the pile of pile fabric of a knife carriage; a knife movably mounted on said carriage; knife actuating means on the carriage;;fmeans for moving the carriage; and means movable in a direction opposite to that of said carriage for causing said knife actuating mechanism to move the knife into cutting relation with the pile of the fabric.

23. The combination, in mechanism for cutting the pile of pile fabric, of a knife carriage; means for moving the same; a knife movably mounted on said carriage; knife actuating means on the carriage; means movable in a direction opposite to that of the carriage for causing said knife actuating mechanism to move the knife into cutting relation With the pile of the fabric; and means for moving said latter means into an inoperative position.

24. The combination in a loom for Weaving pile fabrics of pile Wire; pile cutting means; a Wire carriage; a belt; means for detachably connecting said pile cutting means to one run of the belt; a link connected to the opposite run of the belt; and a member connected to the knife carriage for detachably engaging the link.

25. The combination, in pile cutting mechanism for cutting the pile of fabrics, of a knife carriage; a pile cutting knife movably mounted thereon; knife actuating mechanism on said carriage; means for causing said mechanism to effect the movement of the knife into cutting relation with the pile of the fabric; and a belt having one run secured to-said knife carriage and the opposite run attached to the knife moving means.

26. The combination in pile cutting mechanism of a knife carriage; means for moving said carriage; a knife movably mounted on said carriage; knife actuating mechanism on the carriage; a structure movable in a direction opposite to that of said carriage; a member movably mounted on said structure for controlling the knife actuating means; and means for moving said member into an inoperative position.

27. The combination in pile cutting mechanism of a knife carriage; means for moving the same; a knife movably mounted on said carriage; knife actuating mechanism on the carriage; a structure movable oppositely to said carriage; a member for controlling said actuating mechanism and having a recess; and means movable into and out of said recess forl shifting said member into and out of operative position.

28. The combination in pile cutting mechanism of a knife carriage; means for moving the same; a knife movably mounted on said carriage; knife actuating mechanism on the carriage; a structure movable oppositely to said carriage; a member controlling said actuating mechanism having a recess and beveled surfaces leading thereto; with a second member having portions respectively` movable into engagement With said beveled portions to move said first member into and out of operative position, said portions being formed to enter said recess to lock said first member in the position into which it has been moved.

29. The combination in pile cutting mechanism of pile Wire; a knife alining finger for engagement with the pile Wire; a primary7 knife carriage; a secondary knife carriage movably mounted thereon; a pile cutting knife on said secondary carriage; and means for moving said carriages to bring the secondary carriage into engagement with said alining finger to move the knife into cutting alinement with the pile Wire.

30. The combination in pile cutting mechanism of pile wire; a rail; a primary carriage movable on said rail; a secondary knife carriage movable on said primary carriage; a pile cutting knife on said secondary carriage; an alining finger in engagement with said wire; with a groove-and-projection connection between said alining finger and the secondary knife carriage for positioning the knife relatively to the wire.

31. The combination in pile cutting mechanism for looms of pile wire; a rail; a primary carriage movable on said rail; a secondary knife carriage movable on said primary carriage and having a groove; a pile cutting knife on said secondary carriage; an alining finger for engagement with the pile Wire; and a knife gage bar on said finger cooperating with the groove of said secondary carriage to position the knife relatively to the Wire.

32. The combination in pile cutting mechanism of pile Wire; a primary carriage; a secondary carriage mounted on the primary carriage and having a groove formed with a beveled Wall portion; a pile cutting knife on the secondary carriage with a knife-alinlf) fl tion the knife over the pile wire.

33. The combination in pile cutting mechanism of pile wire; a primary carriage; a

.secondary carriage mounted on the primary carriage and having a groove formed with a beveled wall portion; a pilecutting -knife on the secondary carriage; with a knife-alining finger for engagement with the wire having a knife gage bar, one end of said bar being pointed to enter the groove in the primaryy carriage to po-sition the knife. over the pile wire.

34. rlrhe combination, in mechanism for cutting the pile of pile fabrics, of a knife carriage; a pile cutting knife thereon; knife actuating mechanism on said carriage;

means for operating said actuating mechanism to move the knife into cutting relation with the pile of the fabric; and a spring pressed bumper mounted to coperate with said knife actuating mechanism to move the knife out of cutting relation with the pile.

35,. The combination in pile cutting mechanism of a knife carriage; a pile cutting knife thereon; a shogging plate mounted on said carriage; a knife holderI having a hooked portion. and an inclined surface eX- tending thereto; a pile cutting knife on said holder; and means for moving said shogging plate first into engagement with the incline surface to lower the knife holder and then into said hooked portion to prevent the further movement 'of said knife holder. l

36. The combination, in a loom for weaving pile fabrics, of pile wires; a wil-ecarriage; a wire switch tongue having a groove for the reception of a wire; a'guard finger extending over the groove in said tongue; anda balancing'springnormally holding i said finger over the groove and allowing it to swing in either' direction. A

37. The combination, in a loom for weaving pile fabrics, of Vpile wires; means for inserting and withdrawing said wires; and `a delector movable into position to guide the wires over the warp sheds in changing from the weaving of a pile to the weaving of a non-pilefabric. v

38. The combination, in a loom forW-eaving pile fabrics, of pile wires; means for inserting and withdrawing said wires; and a movable deector having an inclined surface for defiecting the wires over the warp sheds.

39. The combination `in a loom of pile wires; means for inserting and withdrawing said wires; means for causing the wire to beA inserted over the top of the warp sheds free of the fabric; and means for retaining said free wires in proper order.

- .40. The combination in a loom' of pile riage wires; means for inserting and withdrawing the wires in the fabric being woven to prevent them from moving out of position after the pile threads have been cut.

42. The combination in a lloomof pile wlres; means for inserting and withdrawing the pile wires; pile cutting means movable to cut the pile from said wires; with a wire guard mounted over said wires and movable to allow passage of the pile cutting means.

43. The combination in 'a loom of pile wires; means for inserting and withdrawing the pile wires to form a pile fabric; means for deflecting said wires to insert the latter over thev warp sheds free of the fabric in changing from the weaving a pile to the weaving a non-pile fabric; a wire guard-over said wire; and a depressor on said guard having a beveled fac'e tending to keepA said free pile wire from moving upwardly during the take-up of the fabric.

44. The combination, in aloom for weaving pile fabrics, kaf pile wires; a knife carriage; a pile cutting knife thereon; means for actuating said knife; a wire carriage; a wire withdrawing hook thereon; a member on sald wire carriage for engagement with the 'knife actuating mechanism; with a device havingone portion for moving said member into and out of operative position and having another portionfor moving the hook out of operating position.

45. The combination in a loom foi` weaving pile'fabric of pile wires; a knife carriage; a pilecutting knife thereon; means for actuating said knife; a wire carriage; a wire-withdrawing hook thereon; a member on said carriage for engagement with the knife actuating means; a cam; and: means for keeping the wire-withdrawing hook in contact with the cam, said cambeing operal tive to move the hook out of its active position.

46. The combination, in pile cutting mech-l anism, of Va primary knife carriage; a secondary knife carriage movable thereon; pile cutting knife'on said secondary carsharpening means; and guiding means for said secondary carriage for positioning the knife relatively to said sharpening means.

47. The Acombination in pile -cutting mechanism of a supporting structure; a knife carriage; a pile cutting knife movably mounted' on said carriage; two arms movably mounted on said supporting structure;

. a sharpening stone on each of said arms;

means for moving said arms with the stones toward a common plane; and mechanism for actuating the knife carriage to move the knife into and out of contact with the stones7 one of said arms being mounted to frictionally engage the knife While it is passing fromv one Stone to the other to prevent its movement relatively to the knife carriage.

48. The combination in pile cutting mechanism of a knife carriage; a pile cutting 4knife theieon; sharpening stones; means for i moving said stones toward each other; a

knife gage member for positioning the knife Y relatively to the Stones; and means for actuating the knife carriage to move the knife into engagement with the stones.

49. The combination, in pile cutting mechanism, of a pile carriage; a pile cutting knife mounted therein;- two plates spaced apart; two 'sharpening Stones movably mounted on said plates and movable toward each other; means for actuating said knife carriage to bring the knife into the space between said plates and into Successive engagement with the sharpening stones; and a brush in line with Said space between the` plates for cleaning said knife.

' 50. The combination in pile cutting mechanism of a knife carriage; a pile-cutting knife thereon; a knife Sharpener; and a knife-guiding member, said carriage having a portion placed to engage the knife-guid-- ing member to` guide the knife to Said sharpener.

51. The combination in pile cutting mechanism of a kmfevcarriage; a pile-cutting knife thereon; a knife Sharpener; and a knife-guiding bar, said carriage having a grooved portion placed to engage said bar to guide the knife to the Sharpener.

52. The combination in pile cutting mechanism of pile wire; a carriage; a pile-cutting knife on said carriage; an alining member for engagement with' the wire; a knife-gage bar on said member; a knife Sharpener; and

a' knife-guiding bar, Said carriage having a portion lfor engagement with the knife gage bar and the knife-guiding bar to position the pile cutting knife over the wire and to .guide Said knife to the Sharpener respec`- 5.3. The combination in a loom for weaving pile fabrics of pile Wires; a knife car'- riage; a pile cutting knife thereon; means for actuating said knife; a second carriage;

a member on said second carriage for engagement With the knife actuating means;

yand a device having a portion for moving Said member in to and out of operative position, said portion forming a lock therefor.

54. The combination in a loom of pile Wires; a Wire inserting and withdrawing carriage; a freely slidable latch guided on Said carriage to have a limited vertical movement; heads on said Wires, each having a notch into which said latch may fall; with means for automatically lifting. the latch out of said notches.

55. A pile cutting knife consisting of a plate provided with a recess in one of its side edges and having that portion of said edgel between its bottom and the recess sharpened. 1

56. A pile cutting knife consisting of a plate provided with a recess in one of its side edges and having that portion of said edge between its bottom'and said recess Sharp- A, ened and inclined inwardly from said bot- 

